With the newly created "Industrial Generation Network" platform, Vogel Communications Group presents an innovative communication channel for globally active companies. As an effective addition to industry events, the international digital platform enables comprehensive networking: the focus is on digital meetings and contact initiation as well as product presentations and thematic exchange. In future, tools such as appointment scheduling and video conferencing will enable industrial companies to partially compensate for the slump in sales caused by canceled and postponed live events and trade fairs. The platform thus replaces the currently very limited face-to-face communication between companies - especially at national and international trade fairs.
Motto "Empowering Industry Professionals"
With the "Industrial Generation Network", Vogel Communications Group offers a quick response to the economic slump caused by the cancellation and postponement of industry events worldwide. With access to around 14 sectors in the industrial environment, the specialist media company addresses key channels and target groups in international industrial markets.
Participation in trade fairs is of central economic importance for many companies - both for their public image and for direct contact with customers and partners. AUMA, the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry, names maintaining regular customers, acquiring new customers and increasing awareness of the company, products and brands as the three key points for trade fair participation. 99 percent of all exhibitors consider personal contact and thus the opportunity for direct networking to be a major advantage of trade fairs. 95 percent see an advantage in the fact that their company can directly advise and convince - potential - customers at trade fairs through competent employees.
The new international "Industrial Generation Network" platform offers all of this digitally - and in times of coronavirus uncertainty, even faster, less complicated and independent of location. The platform will be launched on March 10, 2020 and will be continuously developed.
Economic emergency situation
For the trade fair industry alone, AUMA calculates that the cancellations and postponements announced so far are expected to result in losses for the economy as a whole of almost EUR 3 billion. The OECD fears far-reaching global consequences and warns of the greatest economic risk since the financial crisis. It currently expects global gross domestic product to grow by 2.4% and is therefore revising its November 2019 forecast downwards by 0.5 percentage points. This is hitting Germany particularly hard. A quarter of German companies fear a drop in turnover of more than 20%.
"The economic impact of the coronavirus is striking and the economic slowdown will certainly continue until the end of the year," says Matthias Bauer, CEO Vogel Communications Group GmbH & Co. KG: "It is precisely the responsibility of the trade media to accompany their industries through economic challenges. Journalistically strong and well-connected trade media are an anchor of trust and can quickly organize contacts and information within an industry digitally. The fact that Germany has such a strong and broad-based specialist media landscape pays off here. We want to do our part to protect companies from greater damage. The virus may soon be gone, but the consequences for companies could be serious. That's why Vogel Communications Group wants to support companies with the 'Industrial Generation Network'. Of course we believe in face-to-face communication, but right now we need to maintain the networking of topics, people and companies in the industries. Matching, lead generation, product presentation, knowledge and know-how exchange are essential for the economy and can ensure operations with digital tools."
You can find the new digital platform at www.industrial-generation.network
If you have any questions or interview requests, please contact Chief Communication Officer Dr. Gunther Schunk(gunther.schunk@vogel.de).
Vogel Communications Group is one of the leading service providers for B2B communication in the German-speaking world. Its headquarters are in Würzburg. With four agencies in Berlin, the Group offers comprehensive communications expertise. The Group's services range from trade media, corporate publishing, social media services, PR, trade fair services, networks and communities to market intelligence & insights and an in-house congress center. The publishing areas include 100+ trade journals, 100+ web portals, 100+ business events as well as numerous mobile offerings and international activities. The print and digital media provide access to 14 sectors in the five economic fields of industry, automotive, information technology, law/economics/taxes and B2B communication.
